Convergences

Convergences is a French non-profit organisation founded in 2008 and based in Paris. It describes itself as a platform for reflection, mobilisation and advocacy (plateforme de réflexion, de mobilisation et de plaidoyer). Its stated mission is to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to combat poverty, exclusion and climate change in both developed and developing countries. The association works to stimulate reflection and action, disseminate good practices and encourage the co-construction of innovative partnerships with high societal impact. Convergences operates across a broad set of thematic areas that it considers capable of triggering decisive change: sustainable development, international solidarity for development, solidarity and inclusive finance, corporate social responsibility (CSR), social entrepreneurship, the social and solidarity economy, and new technologies for development. Rather than delivering products or commercial services, it functions as a convening and knowledge-sharing body that brings together companies, NGOs, public institutions and academics. Its best-known public activity is the annual Convergences World Forum, a multi-stakeholder event held in Paris that gathers actors from the public, private and non-profit sectors around the SDGs. The organisation also publishes reports and good-practice guides, runs working groups and maintains a monthly newsletter to keep its community informed of its activities. It is present on social media and maintains a bilingual French/English web presence. As a non-profit association, Convergences is not listed on any stock exchange and does not have a commercial parent company. Its funding typically comes from institutional partners, foundations and corporate sponsors that support its mission. The organisation positions itself as a neutral space for dialogue and co-construction between sectors, with the aim of accelerating progress towards a more equitable and sustainable world.

Convergences was launched in 2008 as a French non-profit initiative. From its inception it was conceived as a platform for reflection, mobilisation and advocacy rather than as a traditional NGO delivering field programmes. Its founding ambition was to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to fight poverty, exclusion and climate change in both developed and developing countries. Over the years, Convergences has built a reputation as a convening space that brings together companies, non-governmental organisations, public institutions, academics and social entrepreneurs. Its work is organised around thematic areas considered capable of triggering decisive change: sustainable development, international solidarity for development, solidarity and inclusive finance, corporate social responsibility (CSR), social entrepreneurship, the social and solidarity economy, and new technologies for development. The organisation is best known for the Convergences World Forum, an annual multi-stakeholder event held in Paris that has become a reference meeting point in France for actors working on the SDGs. Alongside the forum, Convergences produces reports and good-practice guides, runs working groups and publishes a monthly newsletter to keep its community informed. As of the 2020s, Convergences continues to operate as an active association with a bilingual French/English web presence and a focus on co-constructing innovative partnerships with high societal impact. It remains a non-profit entity without a commercial parent company or stock market listing.

• 2008

  Convergences is launched as a French non-profit platform for reflection, mobilisation and advocacy.

A neutral multi-stakeholder platform for reflection, mobilisation and advocacy on the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. 1Convergences | Vers un monde équitable et durableconvergences.org
2. 2Convergenceswikidata.org